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New Delhi: The increasing tension between Iran and Israel has increased India’s concerns. The Modi government has prepared a big ‘Plan-B’ to ensure that there is no shortage of LPG (LPG) in the country due to the war that broke out in the Gulf countries. Now Indian government oil companies—Indian Oil (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) and GAIL—are going to join hands directly with the African country Angola. Talks on long-term purchase of gas from Angola’s government company ‘Sonangol’ are in the final stages.

Hormuz tension ends, goods will arrive directly

India imports about 92% of its LPG requirement from Gulf countries. All this goods comes through a narrow and sensitive sea route like ‘Strait of Hormuz’, where the threat of war always remains. If this deal with Angola is confirmed, then the ships carrying gas will reach India directly through the Atlantic and Arabian Sea. They will not need to pass through war-affected areas or disputed sea routes. This will make the supply chain safer and faster.

After all, why is Angola the first choice?

Buying gas from Angola is beneficial for India in many ways. Experts believe that gas supply from Africa can reach India 10 to 15 days earlier than America. It takes only 12 to 18 days for goods to arrive from here by sea. In addition, Angola has reserves of 4.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Oil trade between India and Angola is already strong, making new deals easier. If this agreement is signed, then for the first time in history Angola will supply LPG to India.

Russia and Australia are also being monitored

India does not want to leave any stone unturned regarding its energy security. The government is exploring options to import gas not only from Angola but also from countries like Australia, Algeria and Russia. Its objective is to reduce dependence on any one area. The Petroleum Ministry has made it clear that there will be no shortage of gas in the country. Recently, two big ships have left for India carrying 94 thousand metric tons of LPG.

Record rise in demand, but production stalled

India is the second largest LPG consumer in the world. After the launch of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the number of active gas connections in the country has crossed 33 crores. According to the data, India used 31.32 million tonnes of LPG in 2024-25, which is 19% more than 5 years ago. However, it is a matter of concern that the country’s domestic production is stable at 12.8 million tonnes. This is the reason why India has to import 60% of its needs from abroad.

Russia’s petrol ban: What will be the impact on India?

Meanwhile, there is another big news that Russia has banned petrol export from April 1 to July 31. Russia says that it is taking this step to improve its domestic supply and keep prices under control. However, experts believe that it will have little impact on India, but it can become a big problem for countries like China, Brazil and Turkey.